Bob McKenna, who spent months in bed after arriving at the care home, has transformed a tired office space with a fresh lick of paint – and says he ‘can’t wait’ to take on more
Bob now has his own uniform and name tag(Image: Submitted)
A care home resident who suffered a stroke leaving him unable to walk has got stuck in with the maintenance around his home – and “can’t wait” to take on more projects. Bob McKenna spent months in his bed when he first arrived at Alexandra Court care home. But thanks to his new DIY projects, he is thriving by rekindling his interest in a hobby he loves.
Bob, 70, has worked with Alexandra Court’s maintenance man Callum to transform a tired office space, giving it a fresh lick of paint. And the pair are enjoying bacon sandwiches on their breaks! Bob even has his own uniform and is proud to be recognised as part of the team. The former gas engineer has been living at the home since August 2023 and previously would not engage with other residents or even leave his bed.
Stroke survivor Bob, who also has vascular dementia, said: “I am so grateful to the team at Alexandra, especially Callum. I have a real interest in helping with maintenance and DIY, I just love it was always my hobby and being able to do this again is amazing. My personal goal was to support Callum to paint the office, and l certainly achieved that goal – l think me and Callum have done a fabulous job. I have even got my own uniform and badge – I can’t wait to be more involved.”
The home has been using dementia mapping to gain an understanding of a person’s life and to determine what their future goals may be. After lots of conversations with Bob and listening to his wishes to become more actively involved in general maintenance and DIY around Alexandra Court, he was given the opportunity to get stuck in. Bob took on the task of painting and decorating the office, using a roller brush from his wheelchair.
Home manager Joycelyn Tskepo said: “It has been wonderful to see his enthusiasm, determination and willingness to get involved, how this has supported Bob to make a difference to his daily lifestyle is also amazing. This achievement is not just about painting an office. It is about having a goal, being given the opportunity to work towards it, and showing that with the right support, he can accomplish something meaningful and make a positive contribution to the home.
“It has been incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact that being supported to achieve a meaningful daily living goal has had on Bob. By focusing on something that was important to him and providing the right encouragement and support, he has gained confidence, a greater sense of purpose and a real feeling of achievement. We have seen him become more proactive, engaged and willing to get involved in everyday activities within the home.
“This is a wonderful example of person-centred care in action – supporting someone to achieve their goals, build on their strengths and make positive changes to his daily lifestyle. His achievement is something we are extremely proud of, and it demonstrates just how much can be achieved when residents are given the opportunity, choice and support to take an active role in their own lives. So, let’s give him a huge round of applause for reaching his goal, for all his hard work, and for helping to make our care home look even better. Well done – you absolutely smashed it!”
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